Album Review

Toad the Wet Sprocket's rarities and B-sides collection In Light Syrup works surprisingly well. Instead of sounding like a motley assortment of leftovers, the record forms a cohesive whole and highlights the group's considerable melodic talents. There aren't many departures from their gentle, R.E.M.-derived folk-rock, but that is the band's strongest point. No fan of Toad will be disappointed by In Light Syrup.

Biography

Formed: 1986 in Santa Barbara, CA

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

Named in honor of a sketch by the Monty Python comedy troupe, Toad the Wet Sprocket became one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the early '90s, boasting a contemporary folk-pop sound that wielded enough melody and R.E.M.-styled jangle to straddle both the modern rock and adult contemporary markets. Singer Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning (the nephew of '50s hitmaker Mark "Teen Angel" Dinning), and drummer Randy Guss formed the group in 1986 in their native...